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(No Modem 5 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. E. ROWE. KNITTING MACHINE.

No. 604,420. Patented-May 24,1898.

Pawns co; PHDTOLITMO WASHKNGTC): o c.

(No Model.) 5 Sheets-:Sheet 2.

J. E. ROWE.

KNITTING MACHINE. No. 604,420. Patented May 24,1898.

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J. E. ROWE.- I I KNITTING MACHINE.

No. 604,420. Patented May 24, 1898.

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(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 4. J. E. ROWE.

KNITTING MAGHINE I. No. 604,420 PatentedMay 24, 1898.

(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 5.

J. E. RGWE.

KNITTING MACHINE.

No. 604,420. Patented May 24,1898.

UNTTED STATES PATENT Gr mes- JAMES E. ROWE, OF PAWTUCKET, RHODE ISLAND,ASSIGNOR TO THE E. JENCKES MANUFACTURING COMPANY,'OF SAME PLACE.

KNITTING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of ,Iietters Patent No. 604,420, dated May 24,1898. Application filed October 9, 1896. Serial No. 608,387. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES E. ROWE, of

Pawtucket, county of Providence, State of Rhode Island, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Knitting-Machines;

and I do hereby declare the following specification, taken in connectionwith the accompanying drawings, forming part of the same, to be a full,clear, and exact description thereof.

In knitting stockings or other forms of knitted fabric it is frequentlydesirable to use yarns of different color or quality in different partsof the article produced, and in order that this may be accomplishedeconomically and without loss of time the change from one kind of yarnto another should be done automatically and without interfering with thecontinuous operation of the machine. The present invention relates to anattachment for thus changing the yarns, and has for its object theproduction of such an attachment which may be readily applied "tomachines now in use and which shall be simple of construction andaccurate and positive in action.

The improvements embody yarn-guides through which the yarns pass to themain yarn-guide, holders for holding the free end or ends of the yarn oryarns not passing to the needles, and means for carrying the yarnssuccessively to the needles. In the preferred form of the improvementsshown and to be described the guides and holders also act to form thethread carrier for carrying the threads successively to the needles; butit will be understood that the present invention is not limited to suchform and that a thread-carrier might be used which was independent ofthe guides and holders.

In illustrating one mode of applying the present improvements to aknitting-machine operating mechanism has been shown which is so timedthat the threads are changed at the heel and toe of the stocking; but itwill be obvious that other forms of operating mechanism may be used andthat the operating mechanism may be so timed that the yarns will bechanged as often as desired and at any portions of the fabric beingknit.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation showing thepresent improvements and so much of a knitting-machine as is necessaryto illustrate the application of the same to said machine. Fig. 2 is asimilar view showing the parts in a different position. Figs. 3 and 4are a plan and a side view, respectively, of the parts carried by theend of the arm 3. Figs. 5, 6, and 7 are detail views showing the sameparts in a different position. Figs. 7 and 7 are details of certainparts to be described. Fig. 8 is a plan View showing the manner ofmounting the attachment and the mechanism for operating the same. Fig. 9is a plan view showing the position of the parts when the attachment isthrown out of operative position. Figs. 10, 11, and 12 are detail viewsof the operating mechanism.

In the accompanying drawings an embodiment of the present improvementsin their preferred form is shown applied to the knitting-machine fullyshown and described in Letters Patent No. 570,059, granted October 27,1896; but it will be understood that sa d improvements may be readilyapplied to other forms of knitting-machines.

A represents the knitting-head of the machine, which is provided withthe ordinary needle-cylinder and with the cam-cylinder E, which isoperated by the usual beveled gears from the shaft A upon which ismounted the loose pinions A A, the pinion A being revolved continuouslyby suitable gearing and the pinion A being reciprocated by means of thereciprocating rack A. The latch-guard D is pivoted to a standard risingfrom the cam-cylinder E and has formed therein the main thread-guide,which guide is of a peculiar construction, as will be more fullydescribed.

A standard 1 is secured to the frame of the machine and has mountedthereon a sleeve 2, which forms a support for the devices tobedescribed. An arm' 3 is pivoted to the support 2 at 4 and is providedwith the guides 5 6, in which is mounted a bar or slide7, the guide 5being provided with a ,pin 8, which passes through a slot 9, formed insaid-slide, and serves to retain said slide in said bearing, the ends ofsaid slot also forming stops for limiting the movement of said slide inre-. lation to the arms 8. Pivoted to the end of the slide 7 is a plate10, provided with a downwardly-extending portion 11, the front face ofwhich is curved, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3, to form a guard forinsuring the proper movement of the thread. The plate 10 is alsoprovided with a projecting portion 12,'the sides of which form thestationary jaws for two thread holders or grippers. The movable jaws 1314 of these grippers are formed upon a plate 15, which is pivoted to theplate 10 at 16 and is provided with two laterallyprojecting arms 17 18.Mounted upon or formed integral with the plate are twoupwardly-extending lugs 19, between which is pivoted an arm 20, providedat its outer end with the thread eyes or openings 21 22,th rough whichthe threads pass. The arm is provided with a stop 23, which engages thelugs against the lugs 19.

will be more fully explained.

sides of the projection 11.

The jaws 13 14 are operated at the proper times by means of stops in theform of rolls 28 29, mounted upon the ends of slides30 31, said slidesbeing mounted upon the slide 7 and being held in position by means ofthe guide 32, secured to said slide, and the guide 6. The operation ofthe stops 28 29 is controlled by means Of the wheel 33, provided withtwo series of projections 34 35 the series 34 operating upon the slide30 and the series 35 operating upon the slide 31.

The slide 7 and arm 3 may be operated by any suitable means. In the formshown they are operated in one direction through a lever 36, pivoted tothe support 2 at 37 and connected by means of a link 38 to a bell-cranklever 39, which is pivoted at 40 to the standard 25 and one arm of whichis forked and extends down upon opposite sides of the slide 7, the endsof said forks being provided with slots which engage pins secured tosaid slide. The parts are returned to their normal position by means ofa spring 41, connected to the arm 3 and to the arm 42, projecting fromthe lever 36. The spring 41 also serves to hold the arm 3 in its normalposition, the upward movement of said arm being limited by an adjustablestop 41, which engages a lug 41 projecting from the standard 2.

The controlling-wheel 33 is moved forward a step upon each movement ofthe slide 7 by means of a pawl 43 pivoted to the end of the arm 42 andengaging the projections 34 35 on said wheel, the reverse movement ofsaid whee being prevented by a stop-pawl 44.

, A slot 46 leads from the top of the latchguard D to the mainthread-guide and forms a passage for the thread to said guide. A hook orstop 47 projects below slot 46 and prevents the escapeof the threadafter it has once entered the main thread-guide. An additional or safetystop in the form of a recess 48, formed in the slot 46, is alsoprovided, for a purpose to be hereinafter more fully explained. Theupper end of the slot 46 is enlarged and the sides of said slot areinclined in opposite directions to prevent the breaking of theneedle-latches should said latches enter said slot.

The operation of the devices described is as follows: Presuming theparts to be in the position shown in Figs. 1, 3, and 4, the thread awill pass from the usual stationary guides g and take-upt through thethread-eye 22, which does not travel with the cylinder, and at this timeacts as a stationary guide from which the thread passes through mainthread-guide 45 to the needles, and the thread b will pass from thestationary guide g and take-up 2? through the thread-eye 21, and its endwill be held by the jaws 14 12. When the threads are to be changedthatis to say, thread b to be inserted and thread a Withdrawnthe arm 36 willbe drawn down by any suitable means, thus moving the slide 7 forward androcking the plate 10 upon its pivot, so that said plate will occupy theposition in relation to said slide shown in Fig. 7. This movement of theplate 10 will cause the spring 24 to rock the plate 20 upon its pivot,and thus carry the end of said arm away from said plate. When the arm 20swings down into the position shown in Fig. 7, the side of thethread-eye 21 will engage the thread I) and form an engaging device forcarrying said thread into such a position that it will pass from saidengaging device to the thread-holder in substantially a horizontal line;This movement of the plate 10 and arm 20'does not aifect the thread a,which still passes through the thread-eye 22 to the main thread-guide.When the slide 7 has reached the position with relation to the arm 3,(shown in Figs. 2 and 7,) further movement of the arm 36 will rock thearm 3 upon its pivot 4 and move the thread-carrier, formed by thethread-holder 14 12 and the thread engaging device 21, down toward theneedles, the holders passing upon the inside and the thread-engagingdevice upon the outside of the needles. This movement of thethreadcarrier will carry the thread down the slot 46 and into the mainthread-guide 45, the thread passing between two adjacent needles, andthe engagement with the needles being thus positively insured. Thedownward movement of the arm 36 also rocks the arm 42 and advances thewheel 33 one tooth, thus moving the stop 34 out of the path of the slide30 and moving one of the stops 35 into the 1 path of slide 31, as shownin Fig. 2. as the thread I) has entered the thread-guide As soon 45 thearm 36 is released and the spring 41 suddenly draws the arm 3 and theslide 7 I back into their normal positions.

This movement of the parts brings the end of slide 31 against one of theprojections 35, thus rendering the stop 29 operative by preventing itsfurther rearward movement, and said stop is engaged by the arm 17 andthrows the jaw 13 against the jaw 12, the cutter 26 operating to severthe thread, and thus withdraw said thread. Engagement of the arm 17 withthe stop 29 also moves the jaw 14 away from the jaw 12, thus releasingthe end of the thread I), which nowbecomes the knitting-thread. When thethread is to be again changed, the operation is repeated and the threada inserted and the thread I) withdrawn in a similar manner. The stop 28at this time operates upon thearm 18 and throws the jaws 14 13 into theposition shown in Fig. 3. Thus with the construction shown thethread-eyes 21 and 22 act as stationary guides, except when the threadis to be changed, when they coact with the grippers to carry the threadsto the needles.

In case the parts are not accurately timed and the thread-carrier isreturned before the thread has entered the main thread-guide the threadwill not be withdrawn from the slot 46, but will be caught by thesafety-stop 48, and the action of the needles upon the thread in thefurther rotation of the main thread-guide will carry said thread intothe main thread-guide. Thus the threads are successively carried to theneedles accurately and positively and the engagement of said thread withthe needles insured without reliance upon the frictional engagement ofone thread with another.

In returning to their normal positions the jaws 13 12 or 14 12, as thecase may be, pass upon the opposite sides of either the thread a or thethread I), so that said jaws may be in position to grip and hold thethread until said thread is to be inserted. In order to prevent anyaccidental escape of the thread from between the jaws previous to theclosing of said jaws, it is preferred to provide means for forcing thethread into the holder and holding it therein until the severance of thethread takes place, and in the accompanying drawings one form of suchmeans is shown. This means consists of a rod 49, which extends in frontof the holders and is pivoted at to a standard 51, carried by the slide'7. An arm extends from the rod 49 beyond its pivot and is connected bymeans of the link 52 to the standard 25. When the slide is forcedforward, the link 52 acts to move the rod 49 about its pivot, thusthrowing the rod upward into the position shown in Fig. 2. When theparts are returned to their normal position under the action of thespring 41, the bar 49 is thrown downward and engages the threads,forcing and holding said threads between the jaws of the holders, sothat the severance of the thread to be withdrawn is insured.

The arm 36 may be drawn downward at the proper time by any suitablemechanism, and in the drawings is shown one manner of operating saidarm, the parts being so timed that the threadsare changed as the machinepasses from rotary to reciprocatory knitting,

- or vice versa, so that a different character of thread may be used inknitting the heel and toe of the stockings from that used upon the legand foot. In the form shown an arm 53 is pivoted at 54 to a sleeve 54,pivotally mounted upon a bracket secured to and projecting from thesupport 2, and said arm is connected to the lever 36 by means of an adjustable link 55. The reciprocating bar A is provided at its end with aroll 56, which is adapted to engage a notch in the end of the arm 53 anddraw said arm downward, "thus operating the lever 36. The link 55 passesthrough a slot formed in the slide 57, mounted in the support 2 andprovided at its rear end with a slot 58, which is engaged by a stud 59on the end of one arm of a bell-crank lever 60. A rod 61 is pivoted tothe other end of said bell-crank lever and passes through a slot 62,formed in theend of an arm 63, secured to the shaft I at the rear of themachine. A spring 65 serves to hold the stud 59 in engagement with thefront end of the slot 58, and a spring 66 serves to hold the rod 61 inengagement with the lower end of the slot 62. An arm I is secured to theshaft I and extends into the path of a series of pins I carried by apattern-chain 0 which pattern-chain is fed forward in any suitablemanner. A lever t" is pivoted to a stud i at the rear of the machine andcarries an upwardly-projecting stud 72, which is adjacent to the end ofthe rod 61 and is provided with a conical recess 73, with which theconical end of the rod 61 is adapted to engage. The lower end of thelever 2" is acted upon at the beginning and end of reciprocatingknitting by a cam 0 suitably mounted and operated at the proper time.

The rod 61 normally stands in the position shown in Fig. 10, out of thepath of the stud 72, but is moved into the path of said stud by theaction of the arm 63 when one of the pins I engages the end of the leverI. At this time the earn 0 acts upon the lever t" and forces the stud 72against the end of the rod 61, thus rocking the bell-crank lever 60 anddrawing the arm 53 laterally into the path of the roll 56. The end ofthe rack A is provided with a plate 75, which is provided with a bevelededge which on the upward stroke of said rack engages the end of the arm53 and moves said. arm laterally against the tension of the spring 65,so that the roll 56 may pass said arm, said arm returning into the pathof the roll 56 immediately said plate has passed said arm. 011 thedownward stroke of the rack A the roll 56 engages the notch in the endof arm 53 and draws said arm downward, thus depressing the lever 36 andoperating the arm 3 and slide '7 in one direction. As the arm 53 swingson its pivot it gradually moves out of the path of the roll 56 and intothe position shown in Fig. 2. The end of arm 53 is provided with a shortbearing portion 76, which engages the roll 56 as the roll passes the endof said arm and thus holds the thread-carrier in its lowest position foran instant, or until the thread has passed into the main thread-guide.The roll 56 then releases the arm 53 and the parts are returned to theirnormal position by the action of spring 41, as above described.

In the machine illustrated in the drawings and shown in the patent abovereferred to the pins I have a short bearing surface and thereforerelease the arm 1 before the cam C has passed the end of lever 7L, andthe slot 62 is therefore provided in order'that the arm I may return toits normal position without affecting the rod 61, which rod is returnedto its normal position when released by the stud 72 by the action of thespring 66. The rod 61 is normally held out of the path of the stud 72 inthe construction shown for the reason that in the machine referred tothe lever t" is operated not only at the beginning and end ofreciprocating knitting, but also when the machine changes from narrowingto Widening, at which time a change of thread is not desired.

In operating a knittingmachine to knit stockings provided with ribbedtops it is necessary that the ribbed tops should be transferred to theneedles, and since the threadchanging device occupies a positionimmediately above the knitting-head it is desirable that saidthread-changer be so mounted that it can be readily moved out of andinto operative position, and it is also desirable that when said deviceis moved into operative position it will be securely held in suchposition, so that it cannot be accidentally moved or displaced.Accordingly the support 2 is preferably pivoted upon the standard 1 insuch a manner that it may be swung about its pivot and the devicecarried thereby thus moved out of operative position, so that readyaccess to the knitting-head may be had, and means are provided forlocking said support in its normal position. The preferred form of suchmeans consists of an arm 77, projecting from the top of said support, tothe end of which arm is pivoted a lever 78, provided with a handle 79. Asecond arm or lever 80 is pivoted to a rod K, secured to the frame ofthe machine, and has its other end pivoted to the lever 78 at 82. Thelevers 78 80 are so constructed and arranged that when thethread-changing device is in operative position the ends of said leversabut against each other and form stops for preventing any furtheroutward movement of the thread-changing device. The levers are also soarranged that when their ends abut the three pivotal points of saidlevers are substantially in line, and said levers therefore form ineffect a rigid bar for locking the thread-changing device against anyaccidental displacement. To further insure the rigidity of thislockingbar, a spring 83 is connected at opposite ends to the levers 7880, respectively, said spring acting to hold the stops formed by the endof the levers in contact. \Vhen it is desired to move thethread-changing device out of 0perative position, this is done byswinging the lever 78 about its pivot by means of the handle 79, theparts being moved into the position shown in Fig. 9, and the spring 83acts to hold the parts in this position.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

1. In a knitting-machine, the combination with a rotary cam-cylinder, ofmeans independent of said cam-cylinder for guiding a plurality ofthreads, and means for carrying said threads successively to theneedles, substantially as described.

2. In a knitting-machine, the combination with a rotary cam-cylinder,and a thread-guide moving with said cylinder, of means independent ofsaid cam-cylinder for guiding a plurality of threads, and means forcarrying said threads successively to said guide and to the needles,substantially as described.

3. In a knitting-machine, the combination with a rotary cam-cylinder, ofstationary.

guides for a plurality of threads, and means for carrying said threadssuccessively to the needles, substantially as described.

4. In a knitting-machine, the combination with a rotary cam-cylinder, ofa thread-guide independent of said cylinder, a thread-guide moving withsaid cylinder provided with a lateral opening, a thread-carrier, andmeans for operating said carrier to carry the thread to said guidethrough said opening, substantially as described.

5. In a knitting-machine, the combination of a traveling thread-guideprovided with a lateral opening, a thread-carrier independent of saidguide, means for operating said threadcarrier to carry the thread tosaid guide through said opening, and means for quickly returning saidcarrier, substantially as described.

6. In a knitting-machine, the combination of a traveling thread-guide,provided with a lateral opening, a thread-carrier independent of saidguide, means for operating said carrier to carry the thread to saidguide through said opening, and a spring for quickly returning saidcarrier, substantially as described.

7. In a knitting-machine, the combination of a main thread-guideprovided with a lateral opening, a thread-guide from which theknitting-thread passes to the main threadguide, a thread-carrier, meansfor operating said thread-carrier to carry a thread to the mainthreadguide through said opening, means for quickly returning saidcarrier to its normal position, and means for severing the knittingthread, substantially as described.

8. In a knitting-machine, the combination of a main thread-guideprovided with a lateral opening, a thread-guide from which theknitting-thread passes to the main threadguide, a thread-carrier, meansfor operating said thread-carrier to carry a thread to the mainthread-guide through said opening, meansfor quickly returning saidcarrier to its normal position, and means operated by a thread to theneedles, substantially as described.

11. In a knitting-machine, the combination of a plurality ofthread-engaging devices, a plurality of thread-holders, and means foroperating said engaging devices and holders to carry the threadssuccessively to the needles, substantially as described.

12. In a knitting-machine, the combination of a thread-engaging device,a thread-holder and means for moving said device and holder intoposition upon opposite sides of the needles whereby the thread iscarried between adjacent needles, substantially as described.

13. In a knitting-machine, the combination of a thread-guide, athread-holder, and means for moving said guide and holder into positionupon opposite sides of the needles, substantially as described.

14. In a knitting-machine, the combination of a plurality ofthread-engaging devices, a plurality of thread-holders, means for movingsaid engaging devices and holders into position upon opposite sides ofthe needles, and means for successively operating said holders,substantially as described.

15. In a knitting-machine, the combination of a pivoted thread-holder, athread-engaging device carried with said holder and means for movingsaid holder to and from the needles and rocking said holder onits pivot,substantially as described.

16. In a knitting-machine, thecombination of a slide, a thread-holderand thread-engaging device pivoted to the end of said slide, means forreciprocating said slide to rock said holder and engaging device, andmeans for moving the end of said slide to and from the needles,substantially as described.

17. In a knitting-machine, a plurality of thread-holders, means formoving said holders to and from the needles, and means for operatingsaid holders successively, substantially as described.

18. In a knitting-machine, a pivotal plate carrying two thread-holders,means for rocking said plate on its pivot, and two stops forsuccessively operating said holders, substantially as described.

19. In a knitting-machine, a pivoted plate carrying two thread-holders,means for rocking said plate on its pivot, two stops for operating saidholders and means for controlling the operation of said stops,substantially as described.

20. In a knitting machine, two grippers having their movable jawsconnected, two movable stops for operating said grippers, means forreciprocating said grippers, and means for alternately arresting themovement of said stops, substantially as described.

21. In a knitting-machine, a pivoted plate carrying a fixed jaw, amovable jaw pivoted to said plate and provided with two projecting arms,two stops for engaging said arms, means for controlling the operation ofsaid stops, and means for rocking said plate, substantially asdescribed.

22. In a knitting-machine, a plurality of thread-holders, a plurality ofstops for operating said holders, slides carrying said stops,

a wheel provided with a series of projections for each slide, and meansfor operating said wheel, substantially as described.

23. In aknitting-maohine, the combination of a pivoted arm a slidemounted on said arm, a plate pivoted to said slide, and carrying athread-guide and thread-holder, one or more links connecting said plateand arm, and means for operating said slide and arm, substantially asdescribed.

24. In a knitting-machine, the combination of a thread-holder, athread-guide, means for moving said holder and guide to and from theneedles, and means for forcing the thread into said holder,substantially as described.

25. In a knitting-machine, the combination of two thread grippers, twothread guides, means for moving said grippers and guides to and from theneedles, means for alternately operating said grippers, and means forforcing the thread to be gripped between the jaws of the open gripper,substantially as described.

26. In a knitting-machine, a pivoted support, an arm projectingtherefrom, a lever pivoted to said arm, a second lever pivoted to astationary pivot and to said former lever, and stops on said levers tohold the three pivotal points in line, substantially as described.

27. In a knitting-machine, a thread-guide provided with a lateralpassage for the entrance of the thread, means for carrying a thread tosaid guide and means for preventing the escape of the thread throughsaid passage, substantially as described.

28. In a knitting-machine, a thread-guide having a lateral passage forthe entrance of the thread, and a safety-stop in said passage,substantially as described.

29. In a knitting-machine, a thread-guide having a lateral passage forthe entrance of the thread, said passage being enlarged at its entranceend and provided with diverging sides, substantially as described.

JAMES E. ROWE.

Witnesses:

EDWIN P. ALLEN, R. A. BATES.

